St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-16
CHAPTER XVII.

IN one corner OF the tennis ground. MISS
Grey, who had been playing, but has
now resigned her place and her racket to
another, is looking at her companion
with an expression half wistful, half mis-
chievous-perhaps wholly mutinous.
Crime is flying" says the young man
ardently. Have you not come to de-
cision yet? 1t is almost the last hour.
After tomorrow there will be no grace
left. He returns then"
'Granit2 Yes"
You must choose between me and
him. You know that, and still you hest
tate. When he returns it will give him
an advantage. because then he will again
have the world on his side-his very
presence q es him an extra chance. IT
you could iecide-if you could let me
speak before he comes,'
81 don't see how his presence or alb
sence can Influence the matter. There is
to me only one thing to be considered
whether or not we can live happily when
quite poor"
1T wouldn't be quite" interposes he
eagerly. There would be the eight
. hundred a year.
"There would be -starvation!'
''If you choose to term it So" says he
a little haughtily, his Irish blood at1ame.
'tAnd as yOu so choose, it of course de-
clarcS to me that you have made up your
mind not TO share it.n He looks at her
/ for q little while with his head well
drawn up and his eyes full of an indig-
nant entreaty. Miss Grey, receiving
this look point blank, knows that the
moment has come TO keep him or lose
/ him for ever.
"1ou are SO precipitate-so impul-
sive,n she says, with haste that is suffi-
| GENTLY well bred to re devoid of the ap-
pearance of hurry that really belongs to
it. Il understand the case as well as
you do" petulantly. "It is poverty with
one man, misery with the other. One
has to decide between them-and-one
does not like povertvr'
':Does one prefer misery?'
"N-o. / suppose mott Then she
pauses and locks ner fingers together,
and then unlocks them. st is misery
either way" she says.
''Not if there Is love-" entreats he
softly. "And-you will have to make
up your mind now"
'sYou mean that you will not wait to
receive my decision later on:'' asks she,
with a sudden swift glance from her
eyes.
Yes, that is what | mean,' says
Massareene.
1t is to be now or never, them She
realizes the situation at once, and admires
her true lover a little the more in that
she knows he will abide by his word,
and that ii she now trif1es with him, he
will be over the border tomorrow ere
daylight shows the land, and beyond all
recalling, be the voice of the charmer
never so sweet.
''You mean, tool she says, temper
izing little.
Nothing but that Make your choice
now. day, between me and him. To-
morrow there will be no choice left If
you do not love me, that will matter not
at all, and l shall have had all escape
from one who merely used me as toy
wherewith to pass the time If you do
love me, it will matter so far that you
will break all bonds and defy all discom-
fort to link your lot with minen His
face is very pale as he says this, but his
eyes are light with resolution and his voice
is firm. He is almost handsome as he
looks at her, with his glance fond but de-
ter1nined, and his right hand resting on
his heart inside his coat as though to
still its tempestuOus beating.
Miss Grey, with tremulous smile,
draws nearer to him.
II have decided" she says gently.
"Now and forever"
SIS it to be him, or me?" Though his
accent is steady, she can see that his
very lips are bloodless
"You, your she says. And then there
is a long, long silence between them.
They are standing in a corner of the ten
mis- ground open to all the world, so that
any demonstration of Joy or gratitude or
love is impossible But even when &C
ton is denied, the eyes can speak
"My beloved"' says Mr.. Massareene in
a tone SO low that she can barely catch
it, but it is so full of infinite delight and
love that she tells herself it is sufficient il
itself to atone to her for the enormous for
tune she is willingly fiinging away for his
dear sake.
''There is only one thing more" she
says after little bit. ''Do not speak of
this until tomorrow has gone by. It will
distress auntie and Lady Valworth, and
spoil her party"
ssBut, If | say nothing, when Boyle re-
turns he will still regard you as engaged
to him and--and he may expect''-
'sHe will expect nothing. We have
never been loving couple, I assure you.
No. Let the matter rest until Lady Val
worth has had all her enjoyment out of
her sons birthday ball.
cit shall be as you wish, of course"
Then, forgetful of everything save of her.
he takes one of her hands and holds it |
closely. "Millicentl tell me you have no
regret-that you do not think have done
you harm instead of good.n
~ think of nothing except that have
given myself to you for veal or woe, as
the case may be, and that I believe it will
be for veal"
ssBut if not, my darling? Now that /
have really won you, grow faint hearted
lest you should ever repent. Oh! if you
should do that IT there should be only |